The owners of several vehicles towed on the same morning are suing the city, police department and wrecker services allegedly responsible for a mass towing without cause.
Joel M. Doney, Kathleen G. Doney and a class of individuals filed a lawsuit June 15 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against the city of Hammond, the Hammond Police Department, an unknown representative of John's Wrecker Services, Phil's 24-Hour Wrecker Service Inc, Bennett's Towing and Recovery Inc. and unnamed drivers for Darren's Towing and Body Shop, Big Wheel Diesel Repair Shop and Wrecker Service, A and B Towing, Cooper's Wrecker Services, Rogers Towing and Recovery and Tigertown Tow and Recovery.
According to the complaint, on July 3, 2014, the plaintiffs' vehicles were towed from public parking on the side of Cate Street that also includes Alley Square Apartments after the tow was ordered by the city's police department at 6:30 a.m. The suit says the plaintiffs plaid $180 to defendant John's Wrecker Services or $259 to Phil's 24-Hour Wrecker Service to get their vehicles back.
The plaintiffs ask the court to ensure the return of money paid to release each of the vehicles, pain and suffering, loss of the use of the vehicles, personal embarrassment and humiliation. They also ask the court to classify the case a class action and for the defendants to pay, together, compensatory and punitive damages of more than $10,000, pre- and post-judgment interest, court costs and attorney fees. They are represented by attorneys George F. Riess of New Orleans and Thomas J. Hogan Jr. in Hammond.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana case number 2:15-cv-02113-ILRL-KWR.